Nikon has done something amazing with the D40. Although it has a minimum number of bells and whistles and less resolution than many competing DSLRs, its price ($550 street) is extremely affordable. More important, this is the best budget digital SLR on the market right now in terms of image quality and performance.
The most surprisingly thing about the 6.1-MP D40 is how small and light it feels when you’re using it. While many users, including women, will probably like the D40’s svelte profile, those with ham-sized hands might need some time to get used to it. What doesn’t take any getting used to is the ultra-fast startup time. The D40 took less than a quarter of a second to ready itself, which is great if you’re always spotting things to shoot.
Nikon D40 Review by LAPTOP Magazine